Luke 1:50 kjv
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
Luke 1:50 nkjv
And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
Luke 1:50 niv
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
Luke 1:50 esv
And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
Luke 1:50 nlt
He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
Luke 1 50 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 34:6-7 | The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious... | God's compassionate character |
| Num 14:18 | The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love... | God's abundant steadfast love (mercy) |
| Deut 7:9 | He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love... | God's faithfulness and enduring covenant |
| 1 Chr 16:34 | Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! | God's everlasting mercy |
| Ps 25:10 | All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. | Mercy linked to covenant obedience |
| Ps 33:18-19 | Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love... | God watches over those who fear Him |
| Ps 85:10 | Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each. | Divine attributes interconnected |
| Ps 89:1 | I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. | God's faithfulness through generations |
| Ps 100:5 | For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. | God's eternal love and faithfulness |
| Ps 103:11 | For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. | Immense mercy for those who fear God |
| Ps 103:17 | But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children. | Enduring mercy for fearing generations |
| Ps 111:10 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. | Fear of Lord as foundation of wisdom |
| Ps 119:90 | Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. | God's unchanging faithfulness to all ages |
| Ps 145:9 | The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. | God's universal compassion (broad mercy) |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge... | Fear of Lord as source of knowledge |
| Prov 14:26-27 | In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. | Fear of Lord brings confidence and life |
| Isa 50:10 | Whoever among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant... | Fearing God linked to obedience |
| Jer 32:40 | I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them... | Everlasting covenant and God's goodness |
| Lk 1:54-55 | He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever. | God's specific mercy to Israel, covenant |
| Jas 4:6 | But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." | God's grace to the humble (related to fearing Him) |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." | Humility receives God's favor |
Luke 1 verses
Luke 1 50 Meaning
Luke 1:50 proclaims the enduring nature of God's steadfast mercy. It highlights that God's compassion and loving-kindness are continually poured out upon those who honor, revere, and humbly obey Him, extending through all time and to all generations. It is part of Mary's song of praise, the Magnificat, affirming God's character and faithful promises to Israel, fulfilled in the coming Messiah.
Luke 1 50 Context
Luke 1:50 is a declaration made by Mary, the mother of Jesus, as part of her "Magnificat" (verses 46-55). This prayer, or hymn of praise, is spoken when she visits her relative Elizabeth and hears the prophetic affirmation of her unborn child (Jesus) as the Lord. Mary's song is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, drawing heavily from the themes and language of Psalms and prophetic literature, particularly echoing Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2. The immediate context of verse 50 follows Mary's personal testimony of God's mighty acts (verse 49) and transitions to a broader declaration of God's character and consistent way of dealing with humanity throughout history. She is celebrating not only what God has done for her but also what He characteristically does for all people across time who reverence Him, contrasted later in her song with how He deals with the proud and powerful.
Luke 1 50 Word analysis
And (Καί - Kai): A simple connective, smoothly linking this universal truth about God's character to Mary's preceding personal experience of God's greatness (Lk 1:49). It indicates continuity of God's action.
his (Αὐτοῦ - Autou): Refers directly to "He who is mighty" (Lk 1:49), emphasizing that the mercy originates from the one who is powerful and holy.
mercy (ἔλεος - eleos): This Greek word translates the Hebrew concept of chesed (חֶסֶד), denoting steadfast love, covenant loyalty, and faithful kindness. It signifies active compassion shown in practical aid, stemming from a covenant relationship, implying God's unchanging disposition toward His people. It's a fundamental aspect of His character.
is (ἐστίν - estin): Simple present tense, indicating a perpetual, unchanging state. God's mercy is not intermittent; it is eternally present.
on (εἰς - eis): Implies a direction "towards" or "upon." It signifies the object of the mercy, actively directed and poured out upon those who fear Him.
those who fear him (τοῖς φοβουμένοις αὐτόν - tois phoboumenois auton): This is a critical phrase. "Fear" (φοβουμένοις - phoboumenois, from phobeomai) in biblical context does not mean terror, but rather profound reverence, awe, worshipful submission, and obedient humility before God. It implies acknowledging God's majesty, authority, and holiness, leading to trust and obedience. This phrase is a common Old Testament descriptor for true believers.
from generation to generation (εἰς γενεὰς γενεῶν - eis geneas genon): A strong expression of perpetuity, timelessness, and unending duration. It emphasizes God's consistent and unwavering mercy throughout history, across all successive ages and peoples, assuring that His character and promises do not change.
"His mercy is on those who fear Him": This phrase articulates the conditionality not of earning mercy (which is unmerited grace), but of receiving its deepest blessings. While God is merciful to all creation, His covenantal, steadfast mercy, in its fullest, redemptive scope, is particularly extended to those who stand in a right relationship of reverent awe and obedience to Him. This connection between divine mercy and the "fear of the Lord" is a foundational Old Testament principle, often signifying those who believe and walk uprightly before Him.
"from generation to generation": This underlines the immutability of God's character and His covenant faithfulness. It implies that God's acts of mercy are not confined to a single epoch or group but extend eternally, ensuring continuity of His benevolent presence and fulfillment of His promises to His people through time. This phrase reaffirms the timeless relevance and unending reach of God's compassion, affecting successive generations of believers.
Luke 1 50 Bonus section
Mary's declaration here emphasizes the continuity between God's work in the Old Testament and the unfolding New Covenant. She uses traditional Jewish language (like "those who fear him" and "generation to generation") to describe an attribute of God that is foundational to Israel's covenant history and is now supremely manifested in the birth of the Messiah. The phrase "eis geneas genon" also resonates with God's promises to Abraham and his offspring "forever" (Lk 1:55, echoing Gen 13:15, 17:7-8). This verse serves as a key transitional statement in the Magnificat, moving from Mary's personal joy to a prophetic articulation of God's universal redemptive pattern, preparing the way for the cosmic implications of Jesus' coming. It underscores the concept of inherited faith and God's faithfulness being passed down and received through generations of those who worship Him.
Luke 1 50 Commentary
Luke 1:50 is a concise theological statement embedded in Mary's powerful song, the Magnificat. It establishes God's unchanging nature: His character is profoundly defined by mercy, a faithful and steadfast love that endures eternally. This mercy is not randomly dispersed but specifically rests upon those who fear Him. This "fear" is not fright but a profound, humble reverence that acknowledges God's supreme authority and holiness, leading to trust and obedient worship. This attribute of God's mercy is perpetual, spanning "from generation to generation," assuring believers across all ages of His consistent loving-kindness and faithfulness. It provides deep comfort that God's promises and covenant are everlasting, applicable to all who embrace a posture of humble dependence and awe towards Him. Practically, this means believers can always rely on God's unchanging goodness and forgiveness, experiencing His enduring mercy in their lives when they walk in reverent obedience.